Means for the production of building blocks



June 14 1927. 1,632,317

H. SGHLEGEL MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BUILDING BLOCKS Filed July '7, 1926 l N V E N T O R. Heinrich c/l/zye/ HTTo RNEIYS.

Patented June 14, 1927.

s're'res HEINRICH SGHLEGEL, 0F DUISBURG-BUHRORT, GERMANY.

MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BUILDING BLOCKS.

Application filed July 7, 1926, Serial No.

This invention relates to a method and means for the production of blocks. particularlylight concrete blocks, by a rolling operation.

It has hitherto been usual to produce con crete stones or bricks in single moulds by stamping the same manually, or by means of a stamping machine. Large building blocks are extremely difiicult to produce in a pressing operation, since on account 01' the friction of the material against the sidesof the mould the pressure does not extend evenly to the bottom of the mould, so that the blocks at the bottom are considerably weaker than at the top. In producing artificial bricks in a beating operation the difference in strength is still greater.

The method employed according to the invention, particularly as regards the production of light concrete blocks such as are used in the building of houses, differs from the known method by the fact that the ma terial employed, which may consist of granulated blast-turnace slag with the addition of burntlime and cement and suitable bind-- ing agents, is worked upon in layers by means oi rollers in a high, closed mould to form an elongated slab, whereby the roller acts under its own Weight, and the height thereof from the bottom of the mould is varied as the height of the slab increases. In this manner slabs or blocks (afterwards out to size) of considerable height, but nevertheless perfectly regular throughout, are formed, since upon the rolling operation the roller does not only move over the material, but at the same time also displaces the sur face thereol forming gaps or breaks there in, which are filled or plugged up by the consecutively applied layer.

.rrccording, therefore, to the invention, elongated slabs are produced in a mould by rolling out layers of material one above the other, the arrangement being such that the face walls of the mould are increased in height in conformity with the increasing height of the slab by the application'oit additionalwall portions, the rollers also-being varied in their-distance from the bottom of the mould by reason of the fact that as fresh material is introduced the said rollers has been completed.

120,920, and in Germany October 8, 1924.

are moved out of the mould and on to an adjustable platform, and lifted together with the latter.

o The material is introduced into the mould in the form of single horizontal layers as required for each rolling operation, and the individual layers compressed, i. e., rolled out by means of one or more sets of rollers, which are movable in the mould and act by reason o'l'f'their own Weight, until the desired height and density of the block has been attained. The rolling operation, and accordingly the time required'theretor, may be reduced by increasing the number of rollers. The density of the block may be regulated by variation in the weight or diameter of the rollers. The side walls of the elongated mould are initially provided With the correct height and width; the length 01 the mould may be selected as desired. It is desirable, however, to form in one mould a composite elongated slab or block, which is then out to the desired lengths. The width of the roller-sand the interior width of the mould are equal, so that the rollers work upon the surface of the material over the whole width of the mould. The rollers may be driven by any motive power through the mediul'n of suitable traction means, the direction or movement being reversed at the end of each movement by reversal of the driving means.

Since the material in the mould increases in height as additional layers are introduced, it is necessary to also lift the rollers step by step,and to return the same again to the commencing position after the block This is effected by means ot' a lifting table mounted at each end oi? the mould, each table having a verti cally movable platform for the rollers. With the variation-in the height of the rollers it is also necessary to allow fol-variation in the height oit the driving means for the same. In place of a fixed drive the operation of the rollers may also be etl ected by means of a motor mounted on the roller carriage. I

The two face walls of the'mould also require to be increased in height in order to allow for increased height of the material, I a

and the said walls accordingly consist of individual parts which slide in guideways on both sides.

Any decorative layers required may be rolled out together with the concrete. After the material has hardened and after removal of the walls of the mould the exposed slab or block is cut into the desired lengths, for example, in the known manner by sawing.

The slab or block may be rolled out either edgewise or flat, or a number of slabs or blocks maybe produced superimposedly, the individual slabs being held separate from each other by the provision of intermediate layers, for example of thick paper.

Since during the rolling operation the roller not only rolls over the material, but is also displaced along the same, so that the surface of the material is provided with a corrugated form and breaks are caused antomatically therein which are filled out by the consecutive layer applied, the individual layers of the slab or block are, in a manner of speaking, plugged together.

The extent of this plug-like connection of the superin'iposed layers may be still further increased if the rollers, instead of hav ing a smooth surface, are provided on the periphery with teeth, studs, ribs or the like which, upon the rolling operation, are pressed into the material and cause recesses to be formed, which are filled out by the material of the consecutively applied layer, thus increasing the anchorage and plugging effect between the two layers. If all the rollers are mounted in one carriage or frame, each roller may be provided with such'in denting means'on the periphery, or merely the one or other roller need be thus formed. The recesses or in'dents produced may be of any desired shape, size or depth in accordance with the means provided on the rollers for causing the same. Simple studs, spikes or other projections, for example in .the form of teeth, may be used, or the peg riphery of the roller maybe ribbed or fluted. The chief considerationis that the surface of the material, by the construction of the rollers, be provided with iecesses which'are filled out by the material of the successive layer, in such manner that the superimposed layers are intimately connected.

Vice versa, the arrangement may also be of such kind that, in place of a fixed mould and movable rollers or roller carriage, the rollers are made to be stationary and the mould caused to reciprocate in relation to the rollers, whereby the workman supervising the operations is able to remain at the point where the rollers. are located.

A device for carrying out the method according to the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompai'iying drawing. c p

' Fig. 1 is a front view of the device, partly in section and showing merely the left-hand portion.

Fig. 2' is a section through the mould showing the rollers, drawn on larger scale.

F 3 is a cross-section thereto, and

Fig. 4 a plan.

The mould comprises the two side walls 5 with the face walls 9, which latter may be increased in height as the block is'formed. The material 6 is introduced into the mould in individual layers, for which purpose may 'tionary motor in conjunction with a suitable traction means, or by means of a motor which is directly connected with the rollers or roller carriage. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing the traction means comprises a cable or the like 8 which on both sides of the face walls 9 is passed over pulleys 10, 11, 12 and '13. The stationary motor acts upon the axle of the fixed wheel 12. Since the horizontal cable 8 also requires to be lifted together with the roller carriage as the height of the material in creases by the application of additional layers, the pulleys or guide rolls 10 and 13 are mounted in a vertically movable carriage or the like 14, which may be adjusted in accordance with the height of the carriage for the rollers 7. The weight of the car-. riage 14 is compensated by means of a cable 15 in conjunction with a stationarily mounted roll 16 and a counter-weight. The cable 8 is v accorded the. necessary tension by means of a counter-weight 17, which acts by means of the cable 18 and the fixed roll 19 upon the loose roll 11.

The cable 8 is connected, with its two ends to the carriage for the rollers 7, or is made to be of the endless kind and passed over the roll 20'mounted on the said carriage. The roll 20 is fixed during the rolling operation, so that the same is unable to rotate. The cable 8, which is passed several times about the roll 20, is accordingly firmly connected with the roller carriage 7, and pulls the same. If on the other hand the coupling between the carriage 7 and the roll 20 is released, so that the roll is able to freely rotate on the carriage frame, the cable 8 runs loosely over the rotating roll :20 and the carriage remains at rest. The adjustable roll 20 accordingly allows the cable 8 to continue to run without the necessity of having to pull the heavy rollers, for example, when adjusting the carriage 14 as Lil regards height. On the other hand, it is possible to 'movethe roller carriage 7 when the cable 8 is not in action. by rotatlon of the roll by means of a cranlg'the cable 8 being wound onto the roll 20.

Since, as mentioned above, the width of.

are provided two rollers 7, between which is provided a space for the carrying member, which, composed for example of strong sheet metal, possesses in the space between the front and rear rollers '4' a frame for smaller intermediate rollers 21, the latter working upon the material along the centre which has not been touched by the main rollers on account ofjthe gap bet-ween them. In the form of embodiment shown in the drawing the cable 8 engages the rollers centrally, in order to avoid any tendency to tilt. The cable 8 is passed through the space between the main rollers, and over rolls at the ends of the or 'rier. 7

Since it is also necessary to lift the roller carriage as the material in the mould increases in height, an adjustable platform 22 is provided in front of each end wall of the mould, this platform, in the case of the embodiment shown, being moved by means of a threaded spindle.

The end walls 9 of the mould 5 also re-' quire to be increased in height in conformity with the increase of material. For this purpose the said walls are composed of individual parts which slide in guideways on both sides, and to which additional sections may be added in the said guides as the height of the material increases.

After the slab or block come hardened, the same is removed from the mould and cut to the required lengths.

For the purpose of improving the pluglilre connection between the superimposedly has set, i. e., be

rolled layers of material, the rollers 7, 1n

the case of Figs. 2 L, are not smooth, but provided on the periphery with projections, studs, teeth, ribs or the like 23 which, upon the rolling operation, produces indents or recesses in the surface of the material, these indents or recesses 24lbeing filled out by the consecutively applied layer and thus causing an anchorage between each successive pair of layers.

stated above, the arrangement within the mould may also be reversechi. e., the rollers may be made stationary and the mould caused to perform a reciprocatory movement, moving the material along the rollers.

What I claim as new and desireto secure y Letters Patent is:

511 In' -aplant for the production of slabs or blocks in successive layers,- the provision of a mould into which the material is intro duced, in successive. layers, rollers for compressing the material after the introduction of each layer, means for actuating the rollers comprising amotor, a cable passed over guiderolls" and connected with the said roll'- ers, and counter-weigl1ts for tensioning the said cable, and means for adjusting the height of the rollers to conform with the height of the material in the mould.

2. In a plant for the production of slabs or blocks in successive layers, the provision of a mould into which the material is intro-- duced in successive layers, rollers for com-' pressing the material after the introduction of each layer, means for actuating the rollers comprising a motor, a cable passed over guide rolls and connected with the said rollers, means for reversing the said actuating means when the rollers are at each end of the mould, and counter-weights for tensioning the said cable, and means for adjusting the height of the rollers to conform with the height of the material in the mould.

3. In a plant for the production of slabs or blocks in successive layers, the provision of amould into which the material is introduced in successive layers, rollers for compressing the material after the introduction of each layer,,means for actuating the rollers, and means for adjusting the height of the rollers to conform with the height ofthe material in the mould, comprising an adjustable platform at each end of the said mould, the said platform being adjusted by means of a threaded spindle.

4. In a plant for the production of slabs or blocks in successive layers, the provision of a mould into which the material is introduced. in successive layers, means for adjusting the height of the end walls of the said mould comprising'separate parts sliding in lateral guides, the said parts being added as required, rollers for compressing the material after the introduction of each layer, means for causing the said rollers to act upon each layer, and means for adjusting the height of the said rollers to conform with the height of the material in the mould.

5. In a plant for the production of slabs or blocks in successive layers, the provision of a mould into which the material is introduced in successive layers, means for adjustingthe height of the end walls of the said mould comprising separateparts sliding in lateral guides, the said parts being added as required, rollers for compressing the material after the introduction of each layer, projecti-ons on the periphery of said rollers for causing recesses in the surface of each layer,

the said rollers comprising a motor, a cable introduced, comprising an adjustable platpassed over guide rolls and connected with form at each end of the said mould, the said 10 the said rollers and counter-Weights for platform being adjusted by means of a tensioning the said cahle,means for reversthreaded spindle.

ing'the said actuating means, and means for In testimony whereof I have afiixcd my adjusting the height of the said rollers to signature. conform with the height of the material in the said mould as the successive layers are HEINRICH SCHLEGEL. 

